Page 66 of Now or Never

Chelsea bit back a squeal. “And this is why I love you.”

Vincent laughed and shook his head. “It was good, Chelsea. Better than good.”

Chelsea had to force her breath in and out. “Really?”

“Yes. You already know that.”

Chelsea nodded. “I’m really proud of it. I’m glad you liked it.”

“I actually really connected to it. I could see the characters, the setting, the tone. I called around, spoke to some producers about it. I understand your agent is working to get it sold.”

Chelsea nodded. “Yeah. There’s been some interest,” she said. But no offers yet.

“I threw my name out there, to DP if it’s green-lit.”

Chelsea stared at Vincent. “Are you ser—”

“Remember, Chelsea. I don’t just say things.”

Chelsea smiled. “Oh, my God. If you’re on board, it’s as good as sold. This is amazing. Thank you! Thank you!”

Chelsea ran forward, pulled Vincent into a wild hug that was completely unprofessional. But he knew how she operated by now.

When she finally let go of Vincent, his face went more serious. “I gotta ask,” he said, then entered a lengthy pause.

She was expecting a question about how she researched for the script or a comment on how twisted she must be to write about murdering people. So it surprised her when he finally found his words.

“Are you sure you want someone else making your movie?” he asked.

Chelsea blew a breath up into her bangs and looked down at her feet. Of course she would rather make it. But it was just too risky.

“I mean, no,” she said with a smile. “But I can’t make it myself, and I need the money. So it’s better for it to get made than for it to sit in my desk drawer.”

Vincent shook his head. “I know it’s a risk, but the payoff could be huge. This is career-launching material. You told me you want to direct.”

“The timing is bad. I’m broke.”

“You can find investors.”

“What if it flops?”

Vincent shrugged. “Then it flops. Investors know the risks.”

Chelsea looked around, not sure how to tell her idol to stop pressing her. It would all just be too hard. And she was sick of hard. She wanted something easy. She’d started forming a new excuse in her mind but was ultimately spared when Jasper came up.

“Chelsea, can I speak to you?”

“No,” she said, then went about ignoring him and packed up her things for the day.

She looked up at Vincent as she worked. “I have to take tomorrow off. My sister’s getting married out of town. I won’t be back until Sunday.”

Vincent nodded.

“Thanks for,” she paused, glanced at Jasper, who hadn’t left. She really didn’t want him to know she was selling a screenplay. “Everything,” she said.

Vincent nodded. “See you next week.”

Chelsea turned and started for home as Jasper fell in step beside her. “What could you possibly want, Jasper?”

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